Hollesley Bay prison to retain almost 100 modular units on site

Plans to retain the use of dozens of modular units at east Suffolk's Hollesley Bay prison have been approved.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) had applied to East Suffolk Council seeking retrospective planning permission for 92 modular units, of which 80 are used as accommodation, at the category D open prison.

The MoJ's application was prepared by Cushman & Wakefield.

In planning documents, the applicant confirmed the units at the site, about five miles south-east of Woodbridge, are built to a "highly sustainable standard" and are used to manage "pressures" while more permanent facilities are built.

The documents also said the units and the proposed retention are "not considered to fundamentally change the scale and function" of the site.

"The units are of a high-quality design and built to a highly sustainable standard, located within the existing perimeter fence of the prison.

An aerial view of the Hollesley Bay site (Image: Mike Page)

"Those units will continue to be used to manage prison capacity pressures whilst permanent places are provided in the estate to offset the losses.

"The proposed retention of the units will provide accommodation for prisoners on land located within the existing prison estate. The proposed retention is not considered to fundamentally change the scale and function of the prison or have any material impact on the surrounding area.

"As such, the principle of development is considered acceptable in line with relevant development management considerations.

"The units are of a high-quality design and are single storey in height. The units are set within the boundary of the existing prison and are screened by the existing buildings, trees, and hedges and therefore, are not visible outside of the perimeter fence.

"There are no residential properties that would be affected by the development."

Hollesley Parish Council declined to comment on the application.

East Suffolk's planners have given the scheme the green light, meaning the units will not be brought down.